A former high-ranking officer at the Clarksville Police Department is suing the city over his demotion to patrolman after he was caught having an affair with another officer's wife.

Donald Craig Gipson, a former captain, is suing the city in Chancery Court and asking to have his job restored, along with back pay. Gipson was demoted to Patrolman II after Police Chief Al Ansley met with him last spring and Gipson admitted to the affair.

According to the lawsuit and court documents filed with it, Gipson had an affair with fellow Capt. Michael Thornton’s wife. After hearing that his wife’s vehicle was at Gipson’s home on April 6, Thornton went to Gipson’s home.

When Thornton arrived, she came outside.

“I began to curse loudly and accuse her of having an affair, during which time Captain Gipson exited his residence to stand on the porch,” Thornton wrote in a statement included in an investigation by Ansley.

“Initially, he stated that it was not what I thought and that he was consoling her. I then asked my wife if they were having sex, and she confirmed that they were and that they had been since February 2017. Captain Gipson then hung his head with his hands on his porch rail and I resumed yelling about the situation at both of them.”

Gipson admitted to the affair when questioned by Ansley, but he claims in his lawsuit that Ansley and Thornton are close friends, which biased Ansley.

His lawsuit said, “Alonzo Ansley acted arbitrarily and capricious and failed to follow proper protocol,” outlined in the city codes and police department’s general orders.

But Ansley said Gipson’s actions made it impossible for him to remain a supervisor.

According to papers in Gipson’s disciplinary file and included in the lawsuit, Ansley determined Gipson violated the city's code with "conduct which adversely affects the employee's job performance or operation of the department" in which they are employed.

"I find that the decision you made has caused disruption and adversity to this department, as well as bringing discredit to both you and the organization,” Ansley wrote. “Furthermore, you made this decision as a senior member of the command staff, which in my opinion magnifies the seriousness of this case. I find that you have compromised your ability to be an effective leader in the organization. I believe that placing you in any supervisory position within this department will impair the operation of this department, the morale of this department and the efficiency of this department."

Gipson was bumped from captain to patrolman, a move he calls “unprecedented” in the department, and his salary was reduced from $73,369 to $48,003.

Gipson's attorney, Sheri Phillips, told The Leaf-Chronicle she doesn't know of any other case where someone within the department was punished for having an affair off duty.

“I don’t think they followed their procedures," she said. "Discipline is supposed to be consistent. ... They are supposed to compare discipline from the past, and it’s our contention that’s not what happened.”

Gipson appealed to Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, but she upheld the demotion.

In a letter to McMillan, Phillips wrote that they were appealing the decision "as we strongly believe it is unfair under the circumstances and not consistent with discipline handed down to other employees similarly situated."

The letter cited several instances of officers who engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct and received lesser or no disciplinary action.

While McMillan’s husband, Judge Larry McMillan, normally hears Chancery Court cases, he has recused himself from the case.

As one of five captains in the department, Gipson was over the Special Operations Unit, supervising the Tactical Team, but he was relieved of that role.

According to court papers, Ansley told Gipson he considered firing him and asked if he could function at the department if he was demoted, to which Gipson answered yes.

Ansley said he was especially bothered that the confrontation at Gipson's house was apparently witnessed by other law enforcement officers working for the county and the rumors it had stirred up.

"Everybody in this department knows about it," Ansley said.

He told The Leaf-Chronicle that he can't comment on the points or merits of the case because of pending legislation.

"I will say it frustrates and concerns me that the people affected most, including the entire Clarksville Police Department, on a matter which has been public record for the last 10 months, will now have to relive this ordeal, again, through a public forum," Ansley said Tuesday.

"The litigation will have to run its course through the judicial system," Ansley said. "The decisions I have made on matters brought to my attention reflects the professional standards of the Clarksville Police Department, which does include police officers being held accountable and responsible for their own actions and decisions."

Reach Reporter Stephanie Ingersoll at singersoll@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0267 and on Twitter @StephLeaf